Andrej Raisch, HEAD Coach

Andrej Raisch started to learn fencing in the world's top fencing club, Fecht-club Tauberbischofsheim, Germany when he was 5 years old. He has joined the German national junior fencing team at the age of seventeen, and the national team at eighteen. As a national team member he has been the national champion in Germany, made top eight results in numerous international competitions, including winning the bronze medal for the Men's Foil Team event in European Championships in 2012, and was awarded as the "Athlete of the Year".

As one of the top fencers in Germany, Andrej continued his career path of excellence and development to transit to a young fencing coach. He has been coaching at his home club, Fecht-club Tauberischofsheim, since 2012, and made great results in less than 3 years - his students made top 8 individual finalists and champion in team events in the national tournaments in Germany in 2014.

Andrej began to coach at our fencing club since February 2016. In only a few months, the students have made great progresses and won numerous medals in local and national competitions, including Women's Cadet National Champion and Division I Top 8 Medal in 2016 Summer Nationals. In 2017, his students made even greater results, including Y14 Men's Foil Team Champion in North American Cup, Junior World Cup Champion, and top 8 Finalist in Cadet World Championships.

By working with the students consistently, Andrej helps them to build strong foundation and also improve their technical skills and mentality. He is energetic, highly motivated, cheerful and encouraging, strict but kind to students. Not only can he help the young fencers to improve their technical skills, broaden their knowledge in fencing strategies, he can also infuse the club with positive energy, serve as a great role model for the fencers and help them to grow mentally and psychologically.

Siarhei (Sergei) Byk, Fencing Coach

Siarhei (Sergei) Byk is an internationally recognized fencing athlete and professional coach. As an athlete, he has served in the national team at Cadet, Junior and Senior levels since 2005. His achievements include the silver and bronze medals in European U23 Championships, bronze medal in European Zonal Qualifier to 2016 Olympics in Rio, multi-time top 8 finalists in World Cups and European Championships, and national champion in Belarus for over 20 times. He ranked #1 in U23 European point standings in two consecutive seasons (2011/2012, 2012/2013), #27 in the world ranking for Senior Men's Foil in 2012/2013.

Sergei received two Master's degree (Olympics Sports in Fencing, and Sports Organization) from the National University of Physical Culture and Sport of Belarus in 2013 and 2015 respectively. In 2014, he was selected as an assistant fencing coach in the Olympic Preparation Center for Belarus national cadet and junior fencing team. His students became medalists in national and international competitions, two of them made into the Belarus national team at senior level. He came to the United States in 2016 and duplicated his success - many of his students made great progress by earning medals in high level competitions and improved their rankings in national point standings.